1. Getting a Handle on Some Terminology
Science Basics
Getting a Handle on Some Terminology

2. Fact or Belief?
Fact – specific statement about of substance or process that can be verified
Sodium is a reactive metal.
Sulfur is yellow.
Iron rusts.

3. Fact or Belief?
Belief – statement that may be true but cannot be verified at present
All electrons look alike.
The Sun will rise tomorrow.
As scientific belief is based on substantial evidence that predicts a likely outcome or situation.

4. Law
Law - generalized statement of a relationship between variables in a system based on repeated experimentation; can be used to predict behavior of a system
As the temperature of a gas increases, its volume increases.

5. Hypothesis or Theory?
Hypothesis – possible action and/or explanation for a behavior or an observation; must be tested through experimentation
Increased temperature will speed up the dissolving of a salt in water.

6. Hypothesis or Theory?
Theory – generalized explanation for observations based on repeated experimentation or observations
Behavior such as expansion with heat or increased pressure with decreasing volume is a result of particles that are far apart and moving rapidly

7. Scientific Method
Make an observation that raises a question State a question
Determine a possible reason for the observation or relationship between variables Pose a hypothesis
Design and carry out an investigation to prove or disprove the hypothesis Do an experiment

8. Scientific Method
Compile information from the experiment and decide if the hypothesis was correct
Analyze/Make a conclusion
If the conclusion or experimental process raises other questions, start the process again.

9. Scientific Method Understand variables:
Independent variable = one changed by the experimenter
Dependent variable = one that changes as a result of a change in the independent variable
Controlled variable = any property that is not being investigated and must remain the same during the experiment

10. Scientific Method
Make an observation that raises a question. Do birds prefer red or blue bird feeders?
Determine a possible reason for the observation. Pose a hypothesis.
Birds prefer to eat from red feeders rather than blue feeders.
Design and carry out an investigation to prove or disprove the hypothesis
Determine the variables:
Independent = color of the feeder
Dependent = # of birds at the feeder

11. Scientific Method
Determine the variables:
Controlled = type of feeder, type of food, time of day recorded, height of feeder, location of feeder…
Set up 3 blue and three red identical bird feeders. At a set time each day for 10 days, record how many birds are at each feeder. Record data in a suitable table.

12. Scientific Method Compile information from the experiment.
Analyze the data. Make a bar graph of the number of birds at each color feeder for each day.
Decide if the hypothesis was correct. Make a conclusion
The birds prefer a red feeder over a blue feeder.